All travellers must pass a Covid test before coming to the UK

The checks are being brought in to control the Omicron variant

Published 5th Dec 2021

Everyone flying into Scotland from abroad will need to take pre-departure Covid tests to help stem the spread of the Omicron variant, as the rules are tightened across the UK.

From 4am on Tuesday, international travellers will have to provide a negative pre-departure test taken two days before travelling, in addition to a negative PCR test on or before day two after arrival, under measures agreed on a four-nation basis.

Nigeria has also been added to the red list for international travel from 4am on Monday December 6, meaning all travellers returning to Scotland from there will be required to quarantine on their arrival in managed accommodation for 10 days.

Pre-departure tests are currently only required for people arriving from places on the red list and unvaccinated travellers from all countries of origin.

The Scottish Government said the changes were informed by a UK Health Security Agency risk assessment.

Travel industry anger

The travel sector said the return of pre-departure tests was another "hammer blow" for an industry which was just beginning to pick up again after the devastation wrought by the pandemic.

Clive Wratten, chief executive of the Business Travel Association, said it directly contradicted assurances given by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and he called on the Government to step in and support the sector.

"The introduction of pre-departure testing with little warning is a hammer blow to the business travel industry," he said.

"Public safety is a priority, but businesses will fail, travellers will be stranded and livelihoods devastated by the lack of coherent plans from Government."

Tim Alderslade, chief executive of the industry body Airlines UK, said the rapidly changing measures meant planning was becoming impossible.

"It is premature to hit millions of passengers and industry before we see the full data. We don't have the clinical evidence," he said.

"These measures must be removed as quickly as possible in line with the speed of the booster programme."

The Airport Operators Association chief executive Karen Dee said pre-departure tests were a "major deterrent to travel".

"Essential changes" to protect NHS

Scotland's Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: "It is essential we take steps now to keep people safe, protect the rollout of the booster programme and reduce the chances of unsustainable pressure being placed on the NHS over the winter.

"We have always said it may be necessary to quickly implement fresh measures to protect public health in Scotland, particularly with regards to international travel, and these restrictions are proportionate and necessary to that aim.

"We fully understand the impact the changes will have on staff and businesses in the travel and aviation sectors, particularly as the new variant came at a time when we were beginning to see some signs of recovery. We will not keep the restrictions in place any longer than is necessary."

The countries currently on the red list are Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

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